This study presents the fabrication of facet-oriented nanoparticles with enhanced sonophotocatalytic performance for organic pollutants degradation in wastewater treatment. For the first time by tailoring the crystal facets of nanoparticles, we achieved a significant improvement in catalytic activity under combined sono and photo conditions. The facet engineering approach optimized the surface reactivity, leading to superior degradation efficiency of organic pollutants. Characterization techniques, including XRD and TEM, confirmed the successful synthesis of facet-controlled structures. The synergistic effect of ultrasound and photocatalysis was demonstrated through kinetic studies, revealing enhanced reaction rates and degradation efficiency. The results indicated that the truncated-shaped nanoparticles exhibited the highest degradation rate, achieving a 92.85

Rational design of electrode materials with tailored structural and electronic properties is crucial for the development of high-performance supercapacitors. Here, we report a Zn/V co-doping strategy for NiMoO4 (ZV-NM), which simultaneously induces abundant oxygen vacancies and a phase transformation from the alpha to the beta phase. The synergistic effects of lattice distortion, enhanced redox activity, and improved electrical conductivity collectively endow ZV-NM3 with extraordinary charge storage capabilities, achieving a remarkable specific capacitance of 1423.1 F g-1 (316.24 mA h g-1) at a current density of 0.4 A g-1. When integrated into an asymmetric supercapacitor device (ZV-NM3/NF//GS), this optimized electrode exhibits a specific capacitance of 101 F g-1 at a current density of 0.4 A g-1. It offers a high energy density of 45.4 Wh kg-1 and a power density of 1.31 kW kg-1, while retaining 90.45% of its capacitance after 10 000 charge/discharge cycles. These results highlight the effectiveness of binary doping in engineering vacancy-rich, phase-optimized transition metal oxides for next-generation energy storage applications.

Cobalt disulfide (CoS2) nanoparticles were combined with varying amounts of MXene (Ti3C2Tx) sheets via a hydrothermal method for microwave absorption applications. X-ray diffraction confirmed the coexistence of crystalline CoS2, Ti3C2Tx, and TiO2 phases, revealing the partial surface oxidation of Ti3C2Tx sheets. Scanning electron microscope images demonstrated that CoS2 nanoparticles were uniformly anchored on the MXene sheets, and X-ray photoelectron spectra showed the presence of Co-S, Ti-C, and Ti-O bonds, indicating strong interfacial interactions. The CoS2-35 wt % Ti3C2Tx composite exhibited a minimum reflection loss of -15.23 dB at a matching thickness of 2.4 mm and a broad effective absorption bandwidth of 7.3 GHz (from 10.7 to 18 GHz) at 3.2 mm, which was mainly attributed to impedance matching. Synergistically, the presence of multiple interlayer interactions and the extension of the wave-propagation path within the layered microstructure of the CoS2-35 wt % Ti3C2Tx composite mutually contribute to wave attenuation.

Li3V2(PO4)3 (LVP) is a potential cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of its elevated theoretical capacity and high operational voltage. The low electronic and ionic conductivities of LVP will lead to sluggish charge and discharge kinetics, resulting in diminished rate capacity and reduced capacity at high rates. Herein, we synthesized (Li3V2-xCax(PO4)3) LVCaP/C and (Li3V2-xSrx(PO4)3) LVSrP/C cathodes by incorporating Ca2+ and Sr2+ within the crystal lattice to attain efficient and highly stable lithium-ion storage. The introduction of Ca2+ and Sr2+ significantly contributes to a stable crystal structure and enhances ionic and electronic conductivity. The Li3V1.97Ca0.03(PO4)3 exhibited an exceptional specific capacity of 124 mAh g-1 at 3.0-4.3 V vs. Li/ Li+, 158 mAh g- 1 at 3.0-4.8 V vs. Li/Li+, and a substantial capacity retention of 96.62 % over 5000 cycles at 10C within 3.0-4.8 V vs. Li/Li+. Furthermore, Li3V1.97Sr0.03(PO4)3 showed remarkable improvements in the rate capacity and cycling stability. The Sr-doped material had a specific capacity of 116.8 mAh g- 1 at 3.0-4.3 V vs. Li/Li+, and 154 mAh g- 1 at 3.0-4.8 V vs. Li/Li+, with a remarkable retention of 91.66 % after 5000 cycles at 10C within the potential range of 3.0-4.8 V vs. Li/Li+. The doping of Ca2+ and Sr2+ offers an efficient strategy for developing high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) characterized by improved cycling stability.

Realizing next-generation intelligent applications requires novel resistive switching devices that can operate with low power, high stability, and desired neuromorphic performance. La0.8Ba0.2MnO3 (LBMO), a functional complex oxide exhibiting a room-temperature metal-insulator transition, shows promise in this context. In this work, we demonstrate interface-engineered resistive switching in the LBMO thin film junction by introducing an ultrathin CeO2 insertion layer. Compared to bare LBMO film, which requires higher forming voltages and suffers from limited stability and large cycle-to-cycle variability, the CeO2/LBMO (LBC) device exhibits stable, low-power bipolar resistive switching. The LBC device achieves a low forming voltage of 2.2 V, an ON/OFF ratio of ∼102, endurance of 600 switching cycles, and data retention of 103 seconds. The improved performance is attributed to controlled oxygen vacancy migration and redistribution facilitated by the CeO2 interlayer. Furthermore, the LBC device displays, for the first time, bioinspired synaptic behaviors, such as gradual potentiation and depression under pulsed stimuli, and exhibits linear plasticity under nonidentical pulse schemes, effectively emulating synaptic weight modulation. Our results demonstrate an interface-induced resistive switching device as a compelling candidate for next-generation neuromorphic components.

Micro‐grained high surface‐to‐volume ratio thin ribbons of magnetic shape memory Ni 42 Co 8 Mn 39 Sn 11‐ x Ge x ( x = 1, 2, 3) alloys are prepared, and their martensitic transformation (MT) behavior, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are investigated. X‐ray diffraction reveals that the incorporation of Ge consistently decreases the lattice parameters and the transformation volume change, thereby improving geometric compatibility between martensitic and austenitic crystal lattices. This improvement facilitated a reduction of the thermal hysteresis of MT to a minimum of ≈12.1 K at the Ge concentration of x = 2. Direct measurements of adiabatic temperature changes show that the x = 2 alloy (SnGe2 ribbon) exhibited the highest peak value (≈2 K) at a moderate magnetic field change of 1.96 T. In addition, SnGe2 ribbon demonstrates exceptional isothermal entropy changes of ΔS iso = 35.5 J kg −1 K −1 K at 7 T and 22.8 J kg −1 K −1 K at 2 T, which are competitive with those of bulk alloys and surpassing previously reported melt‐spun ribbons of the Heusler‐type magnetocaloric materials. The significance of intricate microstructure in boosting the magnetocaloric effect is emphasized. These results highlight the substantial potential of Ni–Co–Mn–Sn–Ge thin ribbons as highly effective, micro‐sized magnetocaloric materials for cutting‐edge solid‐state refrigeration systems.

Substituting ions with large ionic radii in spinel ferrites can significantly affect their physical properties. Co1-xBaxFe2O4 (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50) ferrites prepared using the sol-gel citrate-nitrate method were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. All these techniques show the successful formation of the cubic spinel structure. The magnetic hysteresis loops measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer show that the saturation magnetization of the samples decreases from 53.8 to 39.6 emu/g with Ba substitution, while the coercivity shows an increasing trend from 640 to 1805 Oe. The electrical impedance analysis of the samples shows that the increased distortion and greater accumulation of grain boundaries (decrease in particle size) caused by barium substitution in Co1-xBaxFe2O4 ferrite leads to lower-frequency shifts in both Z” and M” spectra, which explains the increase in relaxation time and decrease in dielectric constant and conductivity.

The widespread use of wireless devices and telecommunication networks has given rise to electromagnetic interference (EMI) pollution that can cause data corruption, critical device failure, and detrimental effects on wildlife and human health. Developing EMI shielding materials can block these harmful electromagnetic waves. This study explores inter-dimensional composite systems composed of dielectric and magnetic phases (WS2/biphasic lithium iron oxide) for EMI shielding applications. WS2 is a 2D material with unique dielectric properties and flake-like morphology that enhances surface effects. In contrast, biphasic magnetic lithium iron oxide nanocomposites have grain-like morphology with greater magnetic losses. The formation of interfaces between these two phases with different morphologies and dimensionalities leads to enhanced interfacial polarization loss. This work demonstrates that by carefully controlling the weight percentage of the two phases, and thereby the interfaces, the EMI shielding properties can be significantly enhanced. An optimum phase composition is determined that exhibits maximum shielding efficiency (SET approximate to 55.6 dB at 12.4 GHz) with high absorption shielding (SEA approximate to 48.8 dB at 12.4 GHz), and an absorption coefficient more than 100% higher than either end member. The studied nanocomposites, with their tunable absorption and reflection capabilities, are suitable for a wide range of EMI shielding applications.

There is a great demand for efficient electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials due to exponential growth in wireless telecommunication devices. These devices emit electromagnetic radiation that can disrupt electronic devices, and cause health hazards. Therefore, it is crucial to develop materials that can shield devices and humans from exposure to electromagnetic radiation. In this context, nanocomposite materials offer huge advantages due to the dual possibility of tailoring the interfaces as well as using the complementary properties of magnetic and dielectric components in the nanocomposite to enhance the EMI shielding performance. This work shows that by a careful tuning of the synthesis parameters, we can grow biphasic lithium iron oxide (ferrimagnetic alpha-LiFe5O8 and paramagnetic alpha-LiFeO2) nanocomposite with different relative fractions of the two phases. The variation of the phase fraction and the simultaneous growth of the two phases allow us to control the interfaces between the two phases as well as the physical properties of the nanocomposite, which have a direct effect on the EMI shielding performance. Detailed structural (X-ray diffraction), compositional (Raman spectroscopy), and morphological (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) characterization is presented to understand the effect of the synthesis conditions on the EMI shielding parameters. Improved dielectric and magnetic properties together with an increased number of interfaces in the sample with nearly equal amounts of the two phases results in the best performance. This work demonstrates the significant potential of using biphasic magnetic oxide nanocomposites with controllable interfaces and physical properties for EMI shielding, which can form the base for more complex triphasic systems in the future.

The facile synthesis of binder-free electrodes for supercapacitors is crucial, as it provides high electrochemical performance, excellent conductivity, easy manufacturing, and enhanced cycling stability. Layered double hydroxides (LDH) and layered triple hydroxides (LTH) are excellent candidates for achieving these storage characteristics. In this work, binder-free CoNi LDH/nickel foam (NF), CoMn LDH/NF, NiMn LDH/NF, and CoNiMn LTH/NF electrodes were prepared using a facile one-step hydrothermal method. Various characterization techniques were employed to investigate and compare the structural, microstructural, and electrochemical properties. The CoNiMn LTH/NF electrode demonstrated the highest specific capacitance of 2212Fg⁻¹, attributed to its unique 1D nanoneedle morphology and the synergistic effect of Co, Ni, and Mn elements. The nanoneedle morphology of CoNiMn LTH/NF results in additional diffusion channels and facilitates the penetration of electrolytes. Moreover, the CoNiMn LTH/NF//activated carbon capacitor exhibited battery-type behavior with an energy density of 26.4Whkg⁻¹ at a power density of 1397Wkg⁻¹.

ZnO-based sensors often suffer from low response rates and long response and recovery times. To address this issue, Ag-incorporated ZnO-based gas sensors with Ag contents of 2, 4, 6, and 8% were synthesized using a simple, fast, and cost-effective method, making them promising candidates for future industrial applications. Structural analysis confirmed the presence of Zn–O bonding and the incorporation of silver as a secondary metallic phase, well integrated with the ZnO nanoparticles. Gas sensing tests were performed under different conditions, and the sample with 2% Ag content exhibited an extraordinary response of 4357%, approximately 29 times higher than that of pure ZnO nanoparticles. The sample with 8% Ag content showed the lowest response and recovery times. Additionally, the response rates of the samples were positively correlated with both concentration and temperature. The increase in response rate was attributed to the spill-over effect in the samples, which enhanced hydrogen mobility. The results demonstrated that Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibited higher porosity compared to the pure ZnO sample. This suggests that tuning the porosity or structure can further enhance the performance of ZnO-based sensors. Moreover, the fabricated sensor showed high sensitivity and an exceptionally low detection limit, indicating strong potential for the continued development of ZnO nanostructure-based gas sensors.

The toxicity of oxytetracycline (OTC) antibiotic remains in the environment and threatens the life of living things. In this research, two series of ZnO nanoparticle catalysts with different particle sizes were prepared.. The structural and optical characteristics of the samples were analyzed and the photocatalytic degradation of OTC was investigated under a 100 W visible light irradiation. The samples prepared using zinc nitrate and zinc acetate showed different photocatalytic performance. The catalysts prepared at lower calcination temperatures show higher photocatalytic performance due to the active surface of the particles. The intensity of the peaks in the XRD patterns of samples also increases with increasing calcination temperature, which confirms the increase in the size of the nanoparticles. The decrease in particle size with increasing calcination temperature was confirmed by FESEM images. On the other hand, the band gap energy was reduced by decreasing the calcination temperature, which increases the performance of the photocatalytic activity. The 27 nm ZnO nanoparticles prepared using zinc nitrate showed 100 % degradation efficiency. As a result, we reached the maximum performance of pure ZnO by only controlling the size and morphology, without making nanocomposite or doping different elements.

In this work, CoFe2O4 powders were combined with various amounts of MXene (Ti3C2Tx) through the solution combustion method for microwave absorption applications. Despite the absence of MXene reflections in X-ray diffraction patterns, the MXene sheets were observed in electron microscopy images. The CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on the MXene nanosheets. The specific surface area increased from 57 to 83 m2 g-1 by adding 20 wt% MXene. The saturation magnetization and coercivity decreased from 44 to 35 emu g-1 and from 834 to 775 Oe, respectively. By adding the MXene, the minimum reflection loss and effective absorption bandwidth increased up to -38 dB and 5.6 GHz at a matching thickness of 1.8 mm, respectively, which was attributed to the enhancement of impedance matching by the decrease of permittivity.

Biomass-based porous magnetic nanocomposites were prepared for microwave absorption in the X-band range. Fe3O4 nanoparticles were precipitated on activated carbon (AC) derived from cypress cones, creating composites with carbon contents ranging from 15 to 85 % by weight. Absorption experiments revealed that 15 % wt. nanocomposite exhibited optimal performance, showing a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of 16.3 dB at a thickness of only 2.5 mm. Notably, this composites efficient absorption bandwidth covered 80 % of the X-band at this thin dimension. This study highlights the potential of this nanocomposite as an effective electromagnetic absorption material. Cole-Cole diagrams confirmed the multiple polarization and conduction losses. The impedance mismatch plot and attenuation constant represent significant impedance matching with free space and high dissipation, which improves the performance of nanocomposites with a ferrite/AC ratio of 85:15.

Zinc oxide nanostructures were synthesized using a thermal decomposition method and subsequently doped with Fe (III) in this study. Techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate the structural and chemical composition of nanomaterials. Fe-doped ZnO was synthesized using a simple, low-cost planetary high-energy ball milling process. The sonophotocatalytic activity of Fe-doped ZnO under visible light and ultrasonic waves was then studied. Another aspect of this study is the utilization of visible light, which is far more accessible and cost-effective than UV light. Malachite green (MG) and phenol were applied as water-soluble contaminants. MG degraded about 87.65% after 1 h in the presence of a Fedoped ZnO catalyst under visible light and ultrasonic waves simultaneously. Phenol was degraded by approximately 64.50% under the same conditions. (c) 2024 Society of Powder Technology Japan Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Li-Al-O thin films synthesized via the reactive magnetron co-sputtering have the potential to act as solid-state electrolytes in micro-batteries. In this paper, the constant RF power (155 W) and variable DC power (20-50 W) were applied to lithium (Li) and aluminum (Al) metal targets, respectively, in Ar/O-2 atmosphere to produce films with adequate ionic conductivity. The influence of DC sputtering power on the composition, microstructure, band gap energy, ionic conductivity, and dielectric loss of films were studied in detail. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed a shift of the Li 1s peak towards higher binding energy with increasing DC power. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed the amorphous state for all as-deposited films, while the post-annealed films at 950 degrees C contain the gamma-LiAlO2 phase. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images revealed that the increasing DC power had a significant impact on the film morphology, enlarging grain size and increasing surface roughness. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy showed that increasing the DC power increased the Al content. The optical properties were examined by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, which indicated that increasing the Al content led to a blue shift of the absorption edge and an increase in the band gap energy (5.40-5.68 eV). Increasing the DC power resulted in an improvement of room-temperature conductivity by two orders of magnitude (similar to 2.85 x 10(-9) S cm(-1)) and a decrease in the activation energy from 0.54 eV to 0.32 eV. These results suggest that composition and microstructure significantly affect the ionic transport in co-sputtered Li-Al-O films.

In this work, two major sources of pollution: (1) Water pollution due to heavy metals, and (2) Electromagnetic wave (EMW) pollution, often regarded as the fourth category of pollution (after air, water, and soil pollution) are addressed. A unique bio-based triphasic nanocomposite (Fe3O4/alpha-Fe2O3/carbon) is synthesized and its superior properties are demonstrated to address both types of environmental pollution. The nanocomposite, derived from lightweight apple tree roots, is used for Pb (II) ion removal from aqueous solutions via adsorption and magnetic separation. The biomass-derived highly porous biochar decorated with iron-oxide showed adsorption efficiency of nearly 100% and corresponding capacity of 149 mg.g-1 under optimal conditions for initial Pb (II) concentration of 50 mg.L-1. Furthermore, a remarkable adsorption capacity of 731 mg.g-1 is achieved using lower amount of the adsorbent for a slightly lower efficiency (97%). In addition, the mesoporous composite showed excellent EMW absorption efficiency with effective absorption bandwidth of 7.8 GHz and reflection loss of -61.7 dB, arising from very good impedance matching, and high dielectric and magnetic losses. This work establishes the multifunctional properties of the synthesized composite, and addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate action, including pollution management). The synthesis and exploration of a multifunctional biochar/iron-oxide triphasic nanocomposite is reported to address two UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate action, including pollution management). The performance of the nanocomposite as an adsorbent for the toxic heavy metal (Pb) from water, and for the absorption of harmful electromagnetic radiation is investigated. image

In this work, the binder-free Fe-doped cobalt LDH/nickel foam (CoFe LDH/NF) electrode was prepared using the hydrothermal method. To achieve higher electrocatalyst activity of CoFe LDH/NF, sulfurization was conducted using the hydrothermal method, while the phosphidation was performed through a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. The CoFeS/NF and CoFeP/NF electrodes exhibited significantly higher electrocatalytic activity than CoFe LDH/NF electrode. The CoFeP/NF electrode with a specific surface area of 6.8 m(2) g(-1) had lower overpotentials of 120 and 236 mV for hydrogen (HER) and oxygen (OER) evolution reactions, respectively. Additionally, the CoFeP/NF electrode exhibited a low potential of 1.32 V vs. RHE at a current density of 10 mA cm(-2) for urea oxidation reaction (UOR). The CoFeP/NF electrode demonstrated low overpotentials of 224 and 273 mV in a seawater solution for HER and OER, respectively. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed the experimental results in which the CoFeP/NF material had promising electrocatalytic activity for renewable energy applications.

There has recently been a fundamental need to develop high efficiency microwave absorbers to reduce electro-magnet-ic pollution.It is often very difficult to obtain superior absorption with only one material,so we have explored composites using fillers of activated carbon derived from biological material(oleaster seeds)and resin(apricot tree gum)with Fe3O4 in a paraffin wax matrix to improve the dielectric properties and achieve a high specific surface area.A 1 mm thick layer of a Fe3O4+resin(FEOR),with the magnetic nanoparticles anchored to the gum,resulted in a reflection loss of-71.09 dB.We compared this with the results for composites using a filler of Fe3O4+activated carbon,and one with a three-component filler of Fe3O4+activated carbon+resin which had a very porous structure that had a direct effect on the surface polarization.However,the FEOR sample had near-ideal im-pedance matching,close to 1,which resulted in high absorption performance.In addition,the presence of defects improves mi-crowave attenuation by dipole polarization and charge carrier trapping.This work suggests the use of new types of biomaterials to in-crease microwave absorption.

The NCM811 cathode material, characterized by a high nickel content, is known for its substantial energy capacity but is afflicted by challenges, including electrolyte degradation and inadequate cyclic stability. In this study, a chemical bath deposition technique is utilized to apply a layer of Sr3(PO4)2 3 (PO 4 ) 2 material onto the surface of NCM811 particles to address these problems. This procedure yields a continuous protective coating that shields the NCM811 particles from detrimental interactions with the electrolyte, such as HF attack and the formation of surface cracks, while also promoting the diffusion of lithium ions during charge/discharge cycles. XRD analysis indicated that the application of Sr3(PO4)2 3 (PO 4 ) 2 coating did not cause any changes in the structure of the NCM811 cathode material. SEM images of all coated samples demonstrated that all coated samples have spherical morphology. Additionally, both Raman and FTIR examinations provide evidences supporting the existence of strontium phosphate material on the surface of the NCM811 cathode material. The distinctive 5.9 nm-thick Sr3(PO4)2 3 (PO 4 ) 2 coating enables the NCM811 material to maintain 96 % of its capacity after 100 charge/discharge cycles in a voltage range of 2.8-4.4 V vs. Li/Li+ + at a current rate of 1C.